Man wanted for arson caught

Wednesday

Jun 14, 2017 at 7:24 AMJun 14, 2017 at 7:24 AM

Alyssa Pressler Gazette staff AlyssaPress71

A Gastonia man accused of setting fire to a trailer with a 3-year-old child inside has been arrested.

James Richard Pruitt Jr., 48, was wanted for setting a fire in a Gaston County trailer park on the 100 block of Brian Circle near Mount Holly on Sunday morning. According to police, a dispute between Pruitt and the trailer's occupants, April Allen, her boyfriend and her 3-year-old son, led Pruitt to set the trailer on fire while all three were inside with their pets.

He was booked into Gaston County jail around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. He's been charged with first-degree arson, three counts of attempted first-degree murder and two felony counts of cruelty to animals, as the pet dog and rabbit did not make it out of the blaze alive.

According to Allen, Pruitt had asked her to spend the night with him. When she refused, he got angry and took his frustration out by setting the fire.

Pruitt has served five sentences is North Carolina prisons for things like burning uninhabited buildings, among other charges. He currently has charges pending for assault on a female, communicating threats and malicious conduct by a prisoner.

He was booked into Gaston County Jail without bond.

You can reach Alyssa Pressler at 704-869-1819 or www.Twitter.com/AlyssaPress71.

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